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Bistro 82 & Sabrage

Voted Best New Restaurant by JN readers.

Esther Allweiss Ingber { Contributing Writer

T

he honors are rolling in for Aaron

Fenkell Belen's Bistro 82, not even a
year old yet, on the southeast corner
of South Lafayette and West Fourth streets in
downtown Royal Oak.
Belen, president and founder of AFB
Hospitality Group, oversees this luxurious
two-story entertainment complex of his own
design. The restaurant on the main level,
Bistro 82, serves dinner six nights a week and
offers DJs and dancing at Sabrage, the refined
nightclub on the second level, on Fridays
and Saturdays. The space is also available for
rentals.
Bistro 82 and Sabrage represent Belen's
mission to upgrade Metro Detroit's nightlife
scene. He figured the "style and flair" he'd
seen in other cities around the world "would
translate well in this market."
Belen wanted to create a "cool, chic dining
and nightlife experience" and he's succeeded.
With two distinct experiences, "you can
come for dinner, then head upstairs to dance
to a world-renowned al that we've flown in
for the night."
Local sports stars and visiting celebrities
dig what Belen has created — including Ben
Affleck, Jeremy Irons, Henry Cavill, Henry
Winkler, and the Hollywood directors,
producers and crews that have been in town
shooting films.
The restaurant has also been a hit with
Jewish News readers, who voted Bistro 82 as
Best New Restaurant for 2014 in the JN's Best
of Michigan poll.
"We are very flattered and appreciative,"
Belen said. "There's nothing like getting
recognized by your community."
Bistro 82 was also recognized as one
of the "Top Restaurants in Metro Detroit
for Business" by DBusiness Magazine and
received a Business Beautification Award
in October from the Royal Oak Chamber of
Commerce.
The restaurant opened its doors on Feb.
12, 2014 — "a year to the day that I closed on
the property," said Belen. He is a specialist in
commercial real estate as well as hospitality.
When Belen purchased the 7,500-square-
foot Sangria property, he undertook "a
complete `soup-to-nuts' overhauling of
the building. We changed everything," he
said. This included adding an additional
2,000-square-feet, bringing the total square
footage to 9,500.
Shaped by his "travels and being in the

30 JN Best of Michigan • December 2014

hospitality business," Belen chose "a modern
French bistro concept." An architect laid out
the plans to his specifications.
"We used the best materials to elevate the
guest experience," he said. For example, "our
NanaWall single track sliding glass system
allows for proper insulation in the winter
and open air dining in the summer. We also
selected beautiful Spanish porcelain tiles
from CIOT in Troy for the floors on both levels
and contracted Harman to design a state-of-
the-art sound system."
Visitors to Bistro 82 are given high-tech
tablets instead of traditional menus. Pressing
on an item calls up its picture, the price and
sometimes key ingredients and wine pairings.
These tablets help reduce paper waste
and allow the chef to make menu changes
instantaneously.

The food choices are varied, including
lamb spare ribs and cauliflower Romesco for
appetizers, ratatouille and organic quinoa
as sides, East and West Coast oysters and
a Grand Shellfish platter large enough for
a crowd. Among the entrees are Lamb
Meatballs, Wagyu Hanger steak and Seafood
Cioppino. Yogurt panna cotta and dark
chocolate tart are two popular desserts.
Executive Chef Derik Watson arrived by
way of Iridescence in Detroit, the former
Tribute restaurant in Farmington Hills and
Rugby Grille in Birmingham. Sous chef
Norman Fenton assists him in the kitchen and
is very talented as well.
The management group, headquartered
in Berkley, is led by Scott Sadoff, director of
operations for AFB Hospitality Group, and
formerly with Ocean Prime and P.F. Chang's

China Bistro, both in Troy. Other experienced
hands are assistant general manager
Matthew Hollander, who oversees Bistro 82
and its beverage program (featuring 350-500
bottles in the bistro's wine cellar and 500
in Sabrage's champagne cellar), and Joseph
McGlynn, Bistro 82's gracious dining room
manager.
Speaking about his team, Belen said,
"We're all young and very passionate about
what we do. We also believe in Michigan —
we've all had the opportunity to `pack our
bags' and go elsewhere, but we've chosen to
create our success here, where we've grown
up. Everyone that works here is part of the
state's turnaround."
Belen, 32, chose the name Bistro 82
"because 1982 was one of the best in 100
years for vintages in the Bordeaux wine
region, and it's also my birth year."
His family has been part of the Detroit
Jewish community for generations, including
Belen's late maternal grandfather Morris
Fenkell, a bank chairman and philanthropist.
Raised in West Bloomfield with siblings
Bradley and Elizabeth, their parents are Lisa
Fenkell, a retired banker, and Dr. Steven
Belen, a cardiologist. Aaron Belen became a
bar mitzvah at Temple Israel and graduated
from Cranbrook Kingswood School in
Bloomfield Hills.
"My plan is to continue acquiring buildings
and developing them into modern, efficient
and beautiful spaces," Belen says, utilizing
AFB Investments, the commercial real
estate division of his company. He says
he's currently eyeing properties along the
Woodward Avenue corridor.
It seems that Belen has only just begun his
roll out of unique dining concepts ... and we

look forward to what's to come!

Bistro 82 & Sabrage

401 S. Lafayette

Royal Oak, MI 48067

1

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(248) 542-0082

www.bistro82.com

Bistro 82 Hours: Tues. & Wed.:

4p.m. – 10p.m., Thursday: 4p.m. – 11p.m.,

Fri. & Sat.: 4p.m. – 12 Midnight,

Sun.: 4p.m. - 9p.m.

Sabrage Hours: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri. & Sat.